Taliban suicide bomb attack near Kabul airport

A Taliban suicide bomber has attacked a checkpoint near the entrance to the international airport in the Afghan capital Kabul, killing five people. Local officials said at least 16 people were injured in the blast. The incident is the latest in a series of recent deadly attacks following the announcement of a new Taliban leader. Talking after the attack, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani accused Pakistan of sending "messages of war" and harbouring terrorist training camps. Kabul's deputy police chief, Sayed Gul Agha Rouhani, told reporters that a suicide bomber had driven a vehicle into the first checkpoint on the road into the airport. Images showed a large plume of smoke rising from the site of the blast and locals reported seeing ambulances approaching the scene.

A Taliban spokesman said the attack, which happened at about midday (07:30 GMT), targeted a convoy of foreigners. But officials said the five people killed included four civilians and a border police officer, according to a news agency.---Aminul